Christmas Post

I hope everyone had a good Christmas, and will have a good New Year as well. There were lots of phone calls at my parents place from relatives, some international calls, some from the other side of the country, some.. well you get the idea.

I have mixed feelings about Christmas. My family concentrates on being together first, and everything else later. Many years we have not bought presents for each other (finances better utilized elsewhere) and not body cares if that's the case. Just dinner and hanging out is what we are interested in.

I do find that I get annoyed with the "Tis the Season" that people go on about. As if it's okay to be a jerk 11 months a year, but come December, we're just nice as pie. It's fake and insulting. I have no problems with not being everyone's friend. Really don't care actually. I'm as much of a jerk at Christmas as I am any other time of year, but at least I'm honest about it.

I guess accountability and awareness come into play yet again.

Bucket List

I was at our Christmas Party for Eden North on Saturday. As always it was a lot of fun. I miss seeing my friends often, and the off season is generally very busy for all of us. Needless to say, the periodical gatherings we have are a blessing.

I was talking with Tina and Blair at one point. Tina is moving to New Zealand in February to go to school. Blair is from New Zealand, and we were all chatting about all the things to do. (I'm into surfing and any type of beach/water sport.) Blair advised taking in a rugby game, traveling to the wild island, and swimming with sharks.... yes swimming with sharks.

Now I realize that we are skydivers and as a rule a little nuts to begin with, but swimming with sharks is kinda out there, even for us. Or so I thought. First I asked him if he was nuts, and he said that swimming with sharks is no big deal. To which Tina said "But it's a SHARK". In his laid back kiwi style he answered "Do you get attacked by a bear every time you go in the woods?" Well obviously not, but bears are not in the habit of biting a chunk out of something to satisfy their curiosity. All in what you grow up with I guess. When your back yard has Great Whites in it, it's no big deal.

The evening progressed and we went our separate ways, but the idea of swimming with sharks being no big deal stuck with me. We're talking about a fish the size of my truck that's main desire in life is consumption... and things like Orcas are on the menu. I've seen the Jaws movies, and though they were based on a bull shark that killed 3 people in the Hudson river over 100 years ago, it still makes me think our lovely Kiwi is out of his mind. But then so am I.

I've not been able to get the idea out of my head, and it has made it's way onto my bucket list. Things to do before kicking that big bucket in the sky. Many of the things I have already done, many I have not. Seeing Uluru (Ayers Rock), Stone Henge, Blarney Castle, Notre Dame Cathedral, base jumping in Norway, base jump from a helicopter, bungie jump from a helicopter, bungie jump in New Zealand, and now swimming with sharks are still on the list.

We always say one day, but the tickets don't buy themselves.... something to look into. For now, I'll just concentrate on getting through Christmas with out stuffing anyone in a stocking.

Time

Another week has slipped away. It never ceases to amaze me how fast it goes. What power it would be to command tempest. Yet we are slaves to the clock.... doesn't seem right.

ouch

I was just in an accident with my truck. I'm fine, just shaken up, and the guy that hit me isn't hurt either... that's what's important.

So I'm just a little sad that my truck is banged up, but there are worst things.